So, I saw this picture and my first reaction was to laugh… Then I thought about it.
I sadly find myself needing to bow my head and pray for mercy over the shallow minded. So often I hear comments and remarks regarding people’s ethnicity, color, language, and even socioeconomic status.
Why should those matter? Does where you’re from make you good or bad? Does the color of your skin make you a lesser person? Is English really the language of the land? I think the natives who were here first, may argue with that.
We’re all immigrants or the descendants of immigrants and we’re all different. My parents were immigrants. Immigrants made the United States of America. Remember 1492? Remember the industrial revolution? Remember the American Dream? Immigrants, foreigners, guests to this country were welcomed and had great contributions to our nation. They haven’t changed, the heart of this nation changed.
This country seems to have forgotten how it got to where it is now. The people have become afraid of their neighbor. Is someone telling you to be afraid? Why? Not for your benefit, but “their” profit. (Feel free to fact check)
Anyone causing a social divide in lieu of social unity is wrong. (This is worth repeating) ANYONE causing a social divide in lieu of social unity is absolutely WRONG!
That being said, let me see if I can clear some of this up for you. God created us. God created you, me and “THEM.” God gave us our language and just to be clear, Jesus did not speak English. God gave you color but your color doesn’t make you gods. Darker skin does not make for a lesser or better man. Lighter skin does not make for a lesser or better man. God created us and them, in His image.
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ (Not each other) ‘So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’
Read what Jesus said to His followers in Matthew 5:21-22; ‘You heard it said, You shall not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.’
The anger Jesus is referring to is, anger with no due cause that leads to hatred. This type of hatred can lead to murder. This is the type of hatred one would have toward another whose skin is a different color or speak a different language, or perhaps, ones place of birth. Let’s call it by name; racial prejudice. In the eyes of God, racial prejudice is just as bad as murder and carries the same judgement. Too many people refer to themselves as Christians but yet harbor ill feelings toward other people just because they are of a different race or religion. This should not be so.
Psalms 97:10 ‘Oh you who love the Lord, hate evil.’ (Not the people but, the sin) ‘He preserves the lives of His saints; He delivers them from the hands of the wicked.’
God, not you, will deliver you from the wicked. Your job is to love one another and pray blessings of peace, a tender heart and wisdom on your enemies. Have faith in the righteous hand of God. If He is with you, who can stand against you? You have no reason to fear anyone regardless what you may be told. Especially non-believers.
1 John 4: 18-18; There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.
Overcome your enemy with the love of God. Romans 12:20-21 ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if your enemy is thirsty, give him something to drink; by doing so, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’
This is a matter of the heart. You, O fellow Christian, should have a heart like Christ. You should not look at different people with a judgemental eye. If someone has sinned against you, forgive them wholeheartedly.
Do you know the Lord’s prayer? (Matthew 6: 9-13) Verse 12 reads; ‘forgive us of our sin as we forgive those who sin against us.’ Yes, forgiveness is conditional! As harshly as you judge others, regardless if they are Christian, non-Christian Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, ets…This is how the Lord will judge you. Jesus will judge your heart, not your speech.
Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” “Love one another as I have loved you. By this, everyone will know you’re My disciples.”
Still not convinced? Read John 3: 16-18. For God so loved the world (that includes middle eastern non-English speaking people) that he sent his only son, that whoever should believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world (so why would you?) but to save the world through him. (Verse 18 breaks it down very well) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only son.
This is an all-inclusive invitation. God makes the judgement call, not us. We are meant to love as we are loved by HIM.
There are many more wonderful scriptures:
Mark 12:31
Luke 6:35
Rom. 13:10
Eph. 4:2
1 Peter 4:8
I’ll stop here so as to avoid redundancy. I’m sure the point has been made. Love one another in the name of our Lord. Turn away from sin.
As one of my esteemed colleagues frequently says, “don’t be a hater.”
God bless you.
Pray for peace!
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